Naik and Schleppi used a copy of a 1937 map of Dayton printed by mapping staff in the auditor’s office as a template, then invited residents of the redlined areas to write their thoughts on the fabric background of the quilt.
Written thoughts range from responses like “Sad Disgusted Angry” or “We all bleed red” to calls for action like “Be better than those before us” and “Invest in Dayton for youth.”
Schleppi and Naik said the piece took more than 600 hours to complete.
The quilt will be on exhibit during normal business hours on the third floor of the Montgomery County Administration Building until August.
Redlining is a now-illegal practice of denying home loans, mortgages and other home financing services to residents of minority neighborhoods that was commonly used by financial institutions and governments in the 20th century.
In a release, Keith said he hopes the exhibit will help inform the public about the history of redlining, later adding that the practice prevented many minority families from owning a home or building wealth.
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